Chapter 15: Experimenting For Ecstasy
Yura and Qandeel ran as fast as they could. They were trying to avoid what they both heard from the hospital and potential pursuits from the shady hospital Yura had gone to.
"Where are we going?" Qandeel asked, panting. "I can't run for so long. Everyone is going to think that we're thieves at this rate."
But Yura would not talk until they reached under a bridge. Qandeel watched with fascination on how Yura was keeping a look out, signalling the both of them to be quiet. When there wasn't a sound to be heard, both of the women let out a sigh of relief.
"I take it you never had to run away," Yura remarked, uncovering the scarf around her face. Qandeel followed suit by unravelling the black veil that hid her face. Now that both women were alone, the both of them started to bond.
Starting with how they escaped the undergrounds. Judging by her face and body frame, Yura figured that Qandeel had escaped the undergrounds longer than her. "So Qandeel, how old are you?"
"I'm thirty-one," she replied, twirling her hair with a finger. Yura smiled, both of her hands on her lap. "Really? I thought for a moment you're my age. I'm twenty-five by the way."
Now that both of the women got to know each other, they decided to talk about how they met their reptilian lovers. Yura thought it was sweet that Qandeel and Iko met at a park where Iko was talking his evening jog. Qandeel happened to be camping there.
"Iko worked as a science teacher at Andre Academy," Qandeel explained, dabbing a bit of Patchouli oil on her wrists. "After work, he would either go to the gym or the park to workout. He said it's for his health and to protect the students if a fight breaks out. We talked a lot at the park, helping me to improve my language of the beasts and before I knew it, he asked me to come home with him."
Yura nodded, admiring how Qandeel talked about her beloved Komodo dragon that way. "That's sweet. I tried to rob Saigo's apartment."
Both girls laughed, sharing more about how life had been ever since they left. It was nice to have another human who thought the same about the beasts. Though, she felt jealous of Qandeel where she doesn't have to risked her life everyday just to have a decent meal.
"So what's your plan now?" Qandeel asked, holding Yura's hand in hers.
"Since Saigo's working at a barista, I might as well find myself a job that might help pay the bills," Yura shrugged, feeling a knot in her stomach. "Sometimes I don't know why am I stealing a lot of organs and reselling them without knowing what I am going to do or where am I going to go. I guessed helping Saigo is my way of trying to redeem myself in this wild world."
Qandeel squeezed her hand in comfort. "I ask myself the same. I guessed we both have the survival instincts since this world is still new to us no matter how long we've been here. I tried to make some money by correcting words for school books."
Yura got interested when Qandeel told her about how she earned money from the school Iko worked at as a proofreader since she loves to read. It made her pondered her abilities besides trying to escape from every thievery she had committed.
It will be difficult but if it meant helping Saigo, she was willing to try even if she knew damn well that she would be killed.
"There's one place I want to go before finding my caiman..."
...
"So she tried to rob your apartment?" Iko asked, following Saigo through the water. The reason the two reptiles were taking this route rather than a cab was because of the caiman's markings. Reluctantly, he hinted at Iko about the financial situation he had landed himself into.
"Yeah and I never knew that after encountering her again, I would fall for her. A human nonetheless!"
Iko listened carefully, understanding all of his struggles and position. Although he himself doesn't mess around the Black Market, he stayed because the apartment rents were cheaper and could managed his teacher salary.
"I'm a science teacher at Andre Academy," said Iko. "I can help you pay a few things for you."
But Saigo shook his head. He hated when anyone pitied him like he was nothing more than a child. He was thirty-seven for god's sake! He needs to be self-sufficient without any help. He had a hard time asking for help because it made him feel stupid for not knowing.
"No thanks," Saigo raised his hands in protest. "I can handle it."
"But you sound uncertain about-"
"Well, at least no one at the barista saw my labels," Saigo interrupted, clearly wanting to change the subject.. He turned his head to wait for the Komodo dragon to catch up with him. He may have strong muscles but he doesn't have the built a crocodilian would've have to navigate the waters.
The both of them dried themselves off the shore, Saigo keeping an eye on anyone spotting them.
"Come on, let's find our humans. Nothing more and I don't want to hear anymore out of you."
Iko sighed, following the caiman. Since both reptiles do not have great sense of smell, they will have to rely on their strength and eyes if anything happened. But that was short-lived when the Komodo dragon was tackled into a hug by a figure donned in black.
Saigo was on guard but soon relaxed when a familiar figure in a yellow raincoat came up to him.
"Yura," Saigo breathed, his heart was hammering. The figure in the yellow raincoat lifted her head to revealed those beautiful brown eyes that met his yellow ones. Both of them embraced each other, him being careful not to crush her.
"Saigo, there's so much I have to tell you," Yura whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her. He watched Iko nuzzling the figure in black. It made him feel warm on the inside despite not fully trusting the Komodo dragon.
"We should get back before anything happens," said Saigo. "The carnivores at the Black Market may not be friendly with our humans."
Iko nodded and so the four of them headed back to Saigo's run down apartment. He gave a toothy grin to the Komodo dragon and his lover. "Not the best but still a liveable place. So, how did you two meet?"
While Iko and his human explained, Saigo couldn't help but noticed how the both of them really cared for each other just like how he was with Yura. Yura on the other hand was making drinks with what was left in the fridge for the four of them.
From what he learned, Iko and Qandeel, his human lover, lived in an apartment that was close to the Black Market but enough to house the two of them. Iko had a stable job, Qandeel assisted him without being seen by other animals and the fact that they have each other made Saigo realised that these two have a good life.
'Except better and a more comfortable than mine,' he thought to himself miserably. The sense on doubt was starting to rear its ugly head. He wanted to do better for himself and Yura but that idea seemed to be slipping away.
"Um, can you three excuse me for a minute? Need to use the bathroom."
Before anyone could protest, Saigo entered the bathroom and locked the door with a click.
Hey, sorry it's been a while. I just published my 2nd novel called Gryphon Cross: Shadowed Scales which is available online and is based on Beastars
Also I'm tested positive with COVID so I am in isolation for at least a week until this horrible cough goes away
Yep, Crocodile Tears will have some dark turns